The Effect of Maximum Strain on Fatigue Life Prediction for Natural Rubber Material

Authors: Chang S. Woo, Hyun S. Park, Wan D. Kim

Abstract:

Fatigue life prediction and evaluation are the key technologies to assure the safety and reliability of automotive rubber components. The objective of this study is to develop the fatigue analysis process for vulcanized rubber components, which is applicable to predict fatigue life at initial product design step. Fatigue life prediction methodology of vulcanized natural rubber was proposed by incorporating the finite element analysis and fatigue damage parameter of maximum strain appearing at the critical location determined from fatigue test. In order to develop an appropriate fatigue damage parameter of the rubber material, a series of displacement controlled fatigue test was conducted using threedimensional dumbbell specimen with different levels of mean displacement. It was shown that the maximum strain was a proper damage parameter, taking the mean displacement effects into account. Nonlinear finite element analyses of three-dimensional dumbbell specimens were performed based on a hyper-elastic material model determined from the uni-axial tension, equi-biaxial tension and planar test. Fatigue analysis procedure employed in this study could be used approximately for the fatigue design.

Keywords: Rubber, Material test, Finite element analysis, Strain, Fatigue test, Fatigue life prediction.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1072910

References:

[1] Lake, "Aspect of Fatigue and Fracture of Rubber", Progress of Rubber technology, Vol. 45, 1983, pp.89-143
[2] D. Klenke, A. Beste, "Ensurance of the fatigue Life of Metal -Rubber Components", Gummi Kunsftoffe, Vol. 40, 1987, pp. 1067- 1071
[3] S. Thong-om, W. Payakcho, J. Grasaesom and B. Marungsri, "Study of Ageing Deterioration of Silicone Rubber Housing Material for Outdoor Polymer Insulators", World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Issue 80, August 2011, pp. 533-539.
[4] Ekis N. Herliyana, Kunio Tsunoda, Yusuf S. Hadi, Arinana, and Dewi A. Natalia, "Pleurotus Ostreatus for Furability Test of Rubber and Sengon Woods using Indonesian National Standard and Japanese Standard Methods", World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Issue 74, 2013, pp. 52-56.
[5] Thomas, "Factors Influencing the Strength of Rubbers", Rubber Chemistry and technology, Vol. 48, 2001, pp. 902-912
[6] H. Yamaguchi, M. Nakagawa, " Fatigue Test Technique for Rubber materials of Vibration Insulator", International Polymer Science and Technology, vol. 20, 1993, p 64-69
[7] S. Moon, C. Woo & W. Kim, "Study on the Determination of Fatigue Damage Parameter for Rubber Component under Multi-axial Loading", Elastomers and Composites, vol. 47, 2012, pp. 194-200.
[8] Day,J., Miller,K., "Equibiaxial Stretching of Elastometric Sheets, An Analytical Verification of an Experiment technique", ABAQUS Users Conference procedings, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 205-219, 2000.
[9] Mullins, L., "Softening of Rubber by Deformation", Rubber Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 42, pp. 339-362, 1969.
[10] S. Lee, S. Yeom, C. Han & C. Woo, "A Study on Finite Element Analysis and Aging Test for Automotive Grommet", Elastomers and Composites, vol. 47, 2012, pp. 201-209.
[11] S. Atieh, M. Kalantari, R. Ahmadi, J. Dargahi, M. Packirisamy, and M. H. Zadeh, "FEM Analysis of the Interaction between a Piezoresistive Tactile Sensor and Biological Tissues", World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Issue 54, 2011, pp. 106-110.
[12] M. Foroutan, H. Dalayeli, and M. Sadeghian, "Simulation of Large Deformations of Rubbers by the RKPM Method", World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Issue 2, 2007, pp. 178-182.
[13] H. Oh, "The fatigue life model of rubber bushing", Rubber Chem. & Technology, vol. 53, 1980, pp. 1226-1238.
[14] T. Alshuth, T. & Abraham F., Parameter Dependence and Prediction of Fatigue life of Elastomers products, Rubber Chem. & Technology, vol. 75, 2002, pp. 635-642.
[15] MARC Users manual, MSC software Inc., 2000.